Eosinophil Markers

Eosinophil granulocytes, commonly referred
to as eosinophils (or less commonly as acidophils),
are white blood cells that are responsible for combating infection
by parasites in the body. They also have a rather diverse array of
other functions, impacting multiple areas of immunology including
allergy and asthma.

Eosinophils persist in the circulation for 6-12 hours, and can
survive in tissue for an additional 2-3 days in the absence of
stimulation. Eosinophils make up about 1-5% of the all white blood
cells, and are about 10-12 micrometers in size.

Eosinophils are found naturally in the thymus (cortico-medullary
junction and medulla), lower gastrointestinal track, ovary during
phases of the cycle, uterus, spleen, and lymph nodes. They are not
found naturally in the lung, skin, or other organs. The presence of
eosinohils in the lung, skin, esophogus, or internal organs is
associated with a disease process.

BMK-13

can serve as a useful pan-eosinophil marker
in tissue sections since it appears to stain most eosinophils.
PMID: 1373987

a catalytically proficient member of the
pancreatic ribonuclease superfamily secreted along with other
eosinophil granule proteins during innate host defense responses
and various eosinophil-related inflammatory and allergic
diseases.
PMID: 16401072

one of the four basic proteins stored in
specific eosinophil granules, can also be detected at the
surface of granulocytes.
PMID: 12606041

MBP1 is more abundant than MBP2 in lysates of
eosinophils and their granules, as judged by immunoassay and
Western blotting. By immunofluorescence, MBP1 is present in
eosinophils, basophils, and a human mast cell line (HMC1),
whereas MBP2 is only detected in eosinophils. Neither MBP1 nor
MBP2 could be detected in any other peripheral blood leukocyte.
MBP2 is present only in eosinophils and that it may be a useful
biomarker for eosinophil-associated diseases.
PMID: 17082653

Other Eosinophil Markers

A photoreactive fluorescent marker for
identifying eosinophils and their cytoplasmic granules in
tissues.
PMID: 12533534